Maxwell Club honors Penn State

December 03, 2012|By Mark Wogenrich, Of The Morning Call

Penn State's football team has received two more awards recognizing the perseverance of its players.

The Maxwell Football Club announced Monday that it will present Penn State's senior class with its Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award. The award, given to Penn State's seniors "in recognition of their commitment, leadership and outstanding effort," is named for the former Philadelphia Eagles player who became a television broadcaster.

In addition, quarterback Matt McGloin received the Burlsworth Trophy, which recognizes the nation's top player who began his career as a walk-on. The award is named for the late Brandon Burlsworth, who went from walk-on to all-America lineman at Arkansas in the 1990s. McGloin received the award Monday at a ceremony in Springdale, Ark.

The Philadelphia-based Maxwell Club will present Penn State's senior class with the Brookshire Award at its March banquet in Atlantic City. According to a release, the Maxwell Club is honoring Penn State for overcoming sanctions, transfers and "the passing of the coaching torch from the legendary Joe Paterno to [Bill] O'Brien" to finish 8-4. The club said that record "surprised many in the college football world."

"The senior leaders at Penn State demonstrated incredible commitment, character and effort during the past year, and what they accomplished on the field this fall is just astonishing," Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski said. "With the difficult circumstances surrounding the program it would have been easy for many of these players to look for a different situation to finish their college careers. But they chose to stay and support their teammates, coaches and university. The spirit and courage demonstrated in their actions is worthy of recognition with the Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award. They are a very special group of young men."

McGloin was one of three finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, first awarded in 2010. McGloin, who received no scholarship offers from FBS schools in high school, recently completed the most prolific passing season in Penn State history.

The quarterback set single-season school records for attempts, completions, yards passing and touchdown passes. McGloin also set career records for touchdown passes, 300-yard games and 200-yard games. He is one of only two Penn State quarterbacks (with Zack Mills) to throw for more than 6,000 career yards.

"I didn't have any Division I-A offers, but I always thought I had the ability," McGloin said this season. "I thought I was capable of performing on Saturdays. Penn State wanted me as a walk-on, I came here, and the rest is history."

McGloin intends to pursue a professional career, saying he'll play "until they tell me I can't play anymore."

"I hope he gets that opportunity," O'Brien said. "… It's a very competitive position in [the NFL], and I know he will compete and, if given the opportunity, he will go in there and do the best he can. I hope he tries to play forever."

MORE AWARDS NEWS: O'Brien is among the nine finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award, which will be presented Dec. 13.

Matt Stankiewitch is among six finalists for the Rimington Award, presented to the nation's top center. The award will be announced Thursday. Penn State's A.Q. Shipley, now with the Indianapolis Colts, won in 2008.